Major international clothing brands, including H&M and Zara, have been accused of unfair practices against their suppliers in Bangladesh.
British fashion brands Lidl, Zara's owner Inditex, H&M and Next have been accused of paying Bangladeshi garment suppliers less than their production costs, making it difficult for factories to meet the nation's minimum wage requirements.
The findings of a survey of 1,000 clothing manufacturers throughout Bangladesh were reported by the Guardian.
The survey also revealed that nearly two years after the start of the pandemic, the majority of suppliers to these four brands as well as Tesco and Aldi were still getting paid at the old rates, despite growing inflation in the nation.Calls have been made to set up a watchdog for the fashion industry to ensure that suppliers are treated fairly.
Bangladesh is a major exporter of textiles and clothing, and many global fashion brands have suppliers in the country. However, the Bangladesh textile industry has been criticised for poor working conditions and low wages in some factories.
Both H&M and Zara have faced criticism and controversy over their use of Bangladeshi suppliers in the past, but both companies have also taken steps to improve labour conditions in the factories they use.
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